Controlled displacement hydraulic lifter



April 22, 1969 M. A. WEILER CONTROLLED DIS PLACEMENT HYDRAULIC LIFTER Filed Jan. 11, 1968 I NV EN! OR Mic/reel A. Wei/er United States Patent 3,439,661 CONTROLLED DISPLACEMENT HYDRAULIC LIFTER Michael A. Weiler, Jacksonville, N.C. (9721 W. Reichert Place, Milwaukee, Wis. 53225) Filed Jan. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 697,193 Int. Cl. F01] N24 US. Cl. 123-90 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for internal combustion engines which will effectively control the lift of any camshaft used. This de* vice allows the complete controlling of the effective timing and duration of a camshaft in order that the engine will attain maximum horsepower per cubic inch of displacement at high camshaft speeds. The device, according to the setting of the control unit, will permit maximum torque to be obtained because the gasoline wasting overlap timing bar is eliminated and this device allows for a smooth idling speed, which also allows the engine to run quieter. The device is equipped with a sliding spool control valve, which is connected to a one-way-check valve, the other end of the check valve being connected to a bleedoff port within the lifters outer body, the bleed-off port allowing for fluid bleed-off from the control displacement chamber of the lifter. The lifter is also supplied with an internal ball check valve.

This invention relates to automotive engines and more particularly to controlled hydraulic lifter for internal combustion engines.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a controlled hydraulic lifter which will effectively raise and lower push rods which control the opening and closing of the engines valves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a controlled displacement hydraulic lifter which will effectively control the lift of any camshaft used, thus controlling the effective timing and duration of the lifting of the push rods, which will allow for maximum horsepower to be obtained from the engine. A further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic lifter which will effectively obtain maximum torque for the engine by eliminating the timing bar.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic lifter which will aid in providing silent engine operation and will permit the engine to idle more smoothly.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a controlled displacement hydraulic lifter which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical and sectional view of the present invention where the control valve and connection are illustrated schematically;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 202 of FIGURE 1.

According to this invention, a hydraulic lifter is provided with a galley 11 through which oil travels from the engine pump (not shown). The oil enters into the lifter inner piston :12 where it collects in the oil chamber 12. The hydraulic action of the oil serves to raise the push rod 13 and enters passage 14 of push rod 13 in order to lubricate the rocker assembly or tappets (not shown). The conventional camshaft 15 is provided with a low portion .16 and a high portion 17, which is 3,439,661 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 The lifter 10 outer body 22 urges against the camshaft 15 in a well known manner and a sliding spool control valve 23 provides for control of the lifting action of lifter 10. A bleed-01f port 24 through lifter body 22 allows for the bleed-off of oil from control displacement chamber 19 where it enters passage 25 and into one-way check valve 26. Check valve 26 is connected to the sliding spool control valve 23. A coil spring 27 within lifter body 22 is carried around the outer portion of ball check valve 20, for a purpose hereinafter will be described.

In operation, the oil in the control displacement chamber 19 will either lift the inner piston 12, which will in turn lift the push rod '13 and actuate the valves of the engine, or the oil will bleed outwards through the bleed-off port 24 of the control displacement chamber 19. The oil bleed-off chamber 19 travels through passage 24 and into a one-way check valve 26. The oil is either blocked or metered by the sliding spool valve 23 which provides the needed control over the inner piston 12 movement, which will effectively control the lift and duration of the valve openings. The lifting action of lifter 10 is silent throughout the cycle of operation. After continued rotation of the camshaft 16, causing the high portion 17 of camshaft 15 to move outward from under lifter body 22, the lifter 10, inner piston 12 operates silently and the spring 27 holds the lifter outer body 22 against camshaft 15. As soon as the pressure is released, the oil in control displacement chamber 19 is slightly less in pressure than the incoming oil pressure. The incoming oil will force open the ball check valve 20 and keep the controlled displacement chamber 19 full while simultaneously maintaining zero operation clearances insuring completely quiet operation of the system.

It will be noted that the system herein described is adaptable to any piston type internal combustion engine and will be especially advantageous for high lift camshafts in order to maintain a maximum of horsepower at high and low speeds. It shall further be noted that the present invention allows for the lifting of push rods through hydraulic means and presents the possibility of totally throttling an internal combustion engine without the use of the conventional manifold and carburetor arrangement.

What I claim is:

1. In a controlled displacement hydraulic lifter, the combination of an outer piston slidable within an engine crank case, an inner piston slidable within said outer piston, said outer piston having one end wall in abutment with a cam on a rotatable shaft, said inner piston having an oil chamber therewithin communicating at one end with a passage within a piston rod secured at one end to said inner piston, said passage communicating with a rocker assembly or tappets of the engine to lubricate the same, a port through a side wall of said inner piston being aligned with a port through a side wall of said outer piston when said pistons are in slidable alignment relative to each other, said outer piston port being aligned with a first oil passage in said crankcase from a galley when said outer piston is slidably aligned therewith, the opposite end of said oil chamber having an opening normally sealed by a spring loaded ball check valve, a displacement chamber containing oil within said outer piston, one end of said displacement chamber being formed by an end wall of said slidable inner piston, a compression coil spring in said displacement chamber, said compression coil spring bearing at one 3 4 end against said end wall of said slidable inner piston, 2,309,740 2/1943 Voorhies. the opposite end of said coil spring bearing against an 2,326,883 8/1943 Pierce et a1. inner wall of said outer piston, a bleed off port communi- 2434109 10/1949 Meinecke.

eating with said displacement chamber, said bleed off 2,494,183 1/1950 Lincoln. port extendlng through a side wall of said outer piston 5 2 614 547 10/1952 M k and being aligned with a second passage in said crankcase emec when said first oil passage communicates between said 3,277,874 10/1966 Wagnergalley and said oil chamber, said second passage com- 3,361,122 1/ 1963 Wagnermunicating with a one way check valve between said second passage and a sliding spool control valve for controlling the lifting action of said lifter.

FOREIGN PATENTS 627,281 8/1949 Great Britain.

References Cited AL LAWRENCE SMITH, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,252 10/1935 Cottingham. 

